CRADLEY'S Royal British Legion branch has moved to allay villagers' fears over its future by announcing it has resolved to carry on as long as it can.

The branch, which also has members in nearby Storridge, Mathon and Bosbury, is suffering from a drop in membership that is currently affecting the organisation nationwide.

In just four years it has lost 38 members and now has 136.

Some villagers taking part in recent events to help determine a Cradley Parish Plan and Village Design statement were so concerned about the branch's future they raised it as a key issue.

But branch secretary Tom Jones said that while it was experiencing a drop in membership those left would try their hardest to keep it going.

"As far as the British Legion is concerned there is not a branch in the country that is not suffering from a reduction in membership," he said.

"Even World War II veterans are now becoming quite aged and, as far as a place like Cradley is concerned, people at Storridge, Mathon and Bosbury simply can't get to meetings.

"It's understandable but the branch has decided we will continue as long as we can with the same few committee members."

Mr Jones is 71 and the branch's oldest member is 85. As of September last year it had 42 ex-service members and 94 associate members.

Its base on Bosbury Road is, however, well used for social evenings and by the likes of skittles teams.

The drop in membership is believed to have been even more dramatic in the past, said Mr Jones.

Younger ex-servicemen, he said, tended to have different priorities, such as finding homes and jobs when they returned to civvy street, rather than joining the Legion.

"There are just a few of us keeping the thing ticking over. There is not a lot of business but we are meeting normal duties and coping with benevolence - although there are times when I become fed up with the whole thing."

Speaking of the village concern, Mr Jones said: "I do feel probably their fears are unfounded and the few of us who attend to RBL affairs are resolved to keeping the branch going."